global health
APHL Powers Labs in Africa
by Edward Mwansa, energy consultant, Global Health; and Kaiser Shen, MSc, MPH, senior specialist, Global Health
Over the past five years, APHL, in collaboration with CDC, has supported energy infrastructure
improvements and offered technical support to ensure reliable power for critical loads at laboratories
in Zambia and South Sudan. The association has employed uninterruptible power systems (UPS),
automatic voltage regulators (AVRs), standby generators and solar systems.
Zambia
South Sudan
In 2013 and 2014, when two rehabilitated generators were installed at
University Teaching Hospital to power its hematology and chemistry labs,
APHL assisted with technical support, procuring needed parts and outsourcing
for the vendor. At Chipata General Hospital (main and PCR labs), Kapata
Referral Clinic and Levy General Hospital, APHL installed UPSs and AVRs. Prior
to installation, the hospitals experienced frequent equipment breakdowns due
to low voltage and lags in turn-around time for testing. Levy General Hospital
laboratory manager Linda Sikakwa is enthusiastic about the result, “Since the
UPSs were installed, we have had no disruptions on the operations of the labs,
even when power is off, in the past two years since the energy improvements
were done.”
With the high cost of fuel and operational costs associated with standby
generators and low voltages due to power deficits, generator systems are not
the perfect solution for laboratories. So APHL is moving to more sustainable
solar solutions, which have minimal operational and maintenance costs.
Fewer equipment breakdowns and disruptions to laboratory
services save lives, not only in Zambia, but in other
countries faced with similar problems. I am proud and
grateful to be a part of these important projects.
In July 2016, APHL assisted the South Sudan Public Health Laboratory to install
96 solar panels, and 84 solar panels at the Blood Transfusion Center. Also
installed were 20 sets of batteries rated at 5000 Ah each to store unused solar
energy for future use. Though budget constraints forced the program to scale
down from four sites to two, the local Ministry of Health was very satisfied
with the installation and looks forward to implementing additional solar
systems at its other facilities.
A Foundation for Future Success
Building on the lessons learned during the solar project in South Sudan, APHL
recently completed energy assessments at select laboratories in Zimbabwe
where it will oversee the bid process for solar equipment. According to
APHL energy consultant Edward Mwansa, who has worked on these energy
improvement projects, “Fewer equipment breakdowns and disruptions to
laboratory services save lives, not only in Zambia, but in other countries faced
with similar problems. I am proud and grateful to be a part of these important
projects.”
Refurbished generator for the chemistry lab at Zambia’s University Teaching Hospital
Solar panels installed in South
Sudan at the public health lab
4
LAB MATTERS Fall 2016
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